Following the dissection of the dead humpback whale in Denmark, several museums have expressed interest in bones of the animal known as “Timmy”.
June 14, 2026, 05:10June 14, 2026, 05:10
Museums from several countries want to show parts of the animal – and tell its story. “We have secured some bones, including a fin, pelvic bones and spinal vertebrae,” said Daniel Klingberg Johansson, who manages the collection of the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen, to the German Press Agency. “We won’t be exhibiting the bones ourselves, at least for now.” Instead, other museums in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands showed interest in the remains.
The body of the dead whale on the beach in Denmark.Image: Livestream News5
Among other things, it is about different perspectives on the topic: “How do we look at an animal?” and “How do we treat nature?” to show. The handling of the humpback whale had sparked criticism from many experts in Denmark and Germany. After the weakened animal was stranded off German coasts several times, a private initiative brought it into the North Sea on a barge and released it, against scientific advice. Shortly afterwards the whale died and was later washed up dead on the beach on the Danish island of Anholt.
Whale bones could still provide insights in 200 years
A team of scientists and veterinarians examined the carcass. Among other things, it turned out that the whale was a female. “Because the whale was so large, it would have required larger investments to completely collect and preserve the skeleton,” said Johansson. That’s why the experts only secured parts.
Beached whales are also not uncommon in Denmark. The skeleton of a slightly smaller humpback whale is currently on display in a Danish museum. But the new bones are still valuable for science, says Johansson. Among other things, the researchers took three ear bones with them to the museum.
“This is very thick bone material from which DNA can still be extracted even after 200 years.”
While those interested may be able to look at some of the whale’s bones in museums for a long time, the rest of the carcass ended up in a factory. The leftovers were intended to be used, among other things, to produce biodiesel. (sda/dpa)